Manufacturing Works, in collaboration with the Wyoming Innovation Partnership, Wyoming Business Council, and the University of Wyoming, launched a new program called CONNEX Wyoming which aims to strengthen supply chains.
CONNEX Wyoming is an online manufacturer database and communication system which is designed to help Wyoming based manufacturers communicate and find Wyoming based suppliers.
“It’s a tool that’s going to connect Wyoming manufactures with local, regional and national manufactures where they’ve traditionally gone in and knocked on doors, or trade shows to identify opportunities,” Rocky Case, the Center Director of Manufacturing Works, said.
The program also aims to help Wyoming manufacturers diversify their markets.
“It’s a tool that is going to assist manufacturers in Wyoming showcase their capabilities and win business outside their traditional channels,” Case said.
“[It’s a tool to help] in diversifying the markets that they compete in, perhaps in aerospace and other technologies of the future, positioning them to showcase their capabilities to manufacturers.”
The program hopes that by building connections and helping manufacturers diversify their markets, they will be able to develop a more resilient market and supply chain within Wyoming.
“[Wyoming manufactures need] diversification in order to create resilience in times where [traditional] markets are down, so they can weather the storm a little bit better. If COVID taught us anything, it’s that being reliant on a significant portion of your supply chain coming over from foreign markets is not a good thing for maintaining resilience and ownership.”
Although it’s too early to notice any big changes, the program is already beginning to see small scale success.
“We did a beta test with a group of about eight manufacturers and we’re already beginning to see some leads come in throughout the nation,” said Case.
“These pieces of business aren’t like quick wins, they take a significant amount of time investment in order to vet it and make sure that it’s a good match, but we’re already starting to see some leads.”
Working alongside many organizations throughout the State, Case said he hopes “to double the state product of manufacturing in Wyoming over five years and then hopefully do it again over 10.”
“If Wyoming can be part of that rebuilding of the supply chain in the US, it’s a good thing for Wyoming’s economy, it’s a good thing for primary job creation in the state, and it’s just overall a great thing for small business owners in the State.”
